Ypsilanti Public Schools Board of Education President David Bates speaks to audience members at last week's community meeting at Chapelle Community School.

Community invited to speak with board Tuesday

By Dan DuChene
Feb. 11, 2010 · 1:12 p.m.

Ypsilanti Public Schools announced it will be hosting a public forum Tuesday to discuss its pending budget cuts with the community.

The announcement, made in a noon press release from the district, comes after the board of education decided at its meeting Monday to hold a series of meetings to involve the public in its decision-making process.

The meeting will be held at 7 p.m. in the Ypsilanti High School auditorium.

“This is an opportunity for the community to provide the board of education with feedback on proposed changes,” the release said.

The board meeting Monday was packed with community members and district staff, mostly interested in the proposed $5 million in cuts scheduled for the next academic year. Approximately 200 people were at Monday's meeting, so many a fire marshal from the Ypsilanti Township Fire Department was called to control the population in the board's meeting room. More than half of those at the meeting were forced to sit in the school's cafeteria and watch the proceedings on a monitor.

The board of education is expected to vote on a restructuring plan for the district that will likely see buildings shuttered and closed. The deficit elimination plan, filed by the district with the state in December, also calls for the layoffs of 41 teachers among other cuts to athletics and support services.

The anticipated school closings have ignited parents from Chapelle Community School to organize and oppose building closures and other cuts. After a community meeting organized by the group last week, two committees have formed to voice concerns from various stakeholders in the district.

The forum scheduled for Tuesday is in response to calls from these groups to allow more transparency and community involvement in plans for the future. At least one more public forum will likely be held to garner feedback from the community once a solid plan is in place.